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THEATRE PLUNGE
Sir Ian McKellen, 85, screamed ‘help me my arms’ after ‘head first’ fall from West End stage with fans left in tears
Theatregoers told how Sir Ian tripped during a fight scene
SIR Ian McKellen reportedly screamed "help me, my arms" after his horror fall from a West End stage which left fans in tears.
The acting legend tripped and plunged "head first" off the stage while starring in Player Kings at the Noel Coward theatre last night.
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Sir Ian, who plays John Falstaff, is said to have lost his footing during a fight scene.
The set was reportedly littered with broken-up bricks and daggers for the battlefield scene.
The West End show was cancelled and the stunned audience ushered out of the theatre.
Audience member Kol Baker told the Sir Ian "tripped over" some props and fell off the stage "in almost a belly flop fashion".
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Kol, 23, added: "Instantly he screamed and honestly the noises were bone-chilling.
"The lights were on so quickly the curtains drawn and within seconds they asked to evacuate the whole auditorium."
Theatregoer Charlie Johnson told : "I think what happened was he put his foot too far.
"He lost his balance and pretty much just went head first into the audience.
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"And within seconds a blood-curdling scream arose from the actor.
"He was clearly in a lot of pain - he was screaming 'Help me!'"
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Theatregoers in the front two rows joined staff in rushing to help the stricken star.
Many of the audience were said to be in tears after seeing the horror fall.
One person tweeted: "Just witnessed an awful accident with Sir Ian McKellen tripping off the stage in London.
"He seems badly hurt. We are all in shock and tears."
"I really hope that he is going to be alright," another member of the audience told the .
"As far as I saw, he was conscious because he was asking for assistance."
Theatregoer Paul Critchley said it was a "shock" to witness the horror incident.
Mr Critchley, a Methodist minister from Downham Market, Norfolk, said: "Sir Ian seemed to trip as he moved downstage to take a more active part in the scene.
"He picked up momentum as he moved downstage which resulted in him falling off the stage directly in front of the audience.
"The house lights came up very quickly as the stage management and front of house team dealt with the incident.
"We were evacuated immediately so that Sir Ian could be treated in privacy.
"An announcement was made by theatre management that the show had been cancelled, that Sir Ian was receiving treatment and an ambulance had been called.
"It was a shock to witness his fall and I wish him a speedy recovery.
"My thoughts are also with his fellow cast members, stage crew and front of house team at the Noel Coward Theatre."
WHO IS SIR IAN MCKELLEN?
WITH two Oscar nominations for his work on screen and the recipient of every major theatrical award in the UK and US, Sir Ian McKellen is widely considered to be one of the greatest actors of all time.
The 85-year-old has gripped audiences both on screen and on stage, receiving international acclaim and becoming a household name across the globe.
His largest mark on the big screen may be as Gandalf in The Lord Of The Rings trilogy.
But he also found mainstream success with his performances as Magneto in the X-Men series and as the title character in the film adaptation of Shakespeare's Richard III.
On the stage, Sir Ian has been nominated for 12 Olivier Awards and won six for his roles in Pillars Of The Community, The Alchemist, Bent, Wild Honey, Richard III and his one-man show Ian McKellen On Stage.
The actor was born in Burnley, Lancashire, in 1939 and, alongside his sister Jean, was raised by his mother Margery and father Denis.
Sir Ian has often credited his parents for encouraging his interest in becoming a performer, previously claiming in a 2017 interview with the Irish Examiner: "Apparently she said, 'If Ian decides to be an actor, it's a good job, because it brings pleasure to people'."
His mother died when he was just 12 and he would lose his father at the age of 22.
Sir Ian acted at all the schools he attended.
When at Bolton School he was able to take on his first Shakespeare performance at Hopefield Miniature Theatre when, as a 13-year-old Malvolio, he performed the letter scene from Twelfth Night.
He then won a scholarship to read English at St Catharine's College, Cambridge and was soon appearing in regular productions, including appearing alongside now famous alumni such as Derek Jacobi, David Frost and Margaret Drabble.
By the time Sir Ian graduated in 1961 he had decided to become an actor, and landed his first job in a production of A Man For All Seasons at the Belgrade Theatre in Coventry.
Since then, he has gone on to become a household name for his acclaimed performances in everything from Shakespearean tragedies to Hollywood blockbusters.
Outside of acting, Sir Ian has been active in the gay rights movement.
Very few people knew of his homosexuality at a young age, including his parents.
In 1988, he publicly came out on a BBC Radio 4 programme while discussing Margaret Thatcher's Section 28 legislation, which made the promotion of homosexuality as a family relationship by local authorities an offence.
He said of the law: "I think it's offensive to anyone who is, like myself, homosexual, apart from the whole business of what can or cannot be taught to children."
Section 28 was eventually fully repealed in 2003.
Sir Ian has spoken about his experiences on coming out on several occasions.
Back in July 2000, he wrote in The Independent: "The only good thing I can think to say about Section 28 is that it finally encouraged me to come out. A bit late in the day, but it remains the best thing I ever did."
Then in 2015, he said that coming out actually made him a better performer, saying: "What happened immediately, according to friends, is I became not just a happier person, but a better actor."
Sir Ian, who now lives in Limehouse, is currently performing in Player Kings, a production of Henry IV, Parts One and Two, at the Noel Coward Theatre in London.
It has since emerged that Sir Ian is recovering well in hospital after the incident.
A spokesperson for Noël Coward theatre said: "Thank you to our audience and the general public for their well wishes following Ian's fall during last night's performance of Player Kings.
"Following a scan, the brilliant NHS team have assured us that he will make a speedy and full recovery and Ian is in good spirits.
"The production has made the decision to cancel the performance on Tuesday June 18 so Ian can rest.
"Those affected will be contacted by their point of purchase as soon as possible tomorrow.
"Thank you to doctors Rachel and Lee who were on hand in the audience and to all the venue staff for their support."
Sir Ian's representatives and the London Ambulance Service have been approached for comment.
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Player Kings, a production of Henry IV, Parts One and Two, is adapted and directed by Robert Icke.
It is due to move to the Bristol Hippodrome in July and will also be staged in Birmingham, Norwich and Newcastle.
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